As with last month, and under the moderate strain on my time created by my upgraded job responsibilities, I have not bogged as regularly throughout November as I would have liked. Thus, affecting my Year Three in Preview, where "posts of present accounts of being will end with 'a year ago- and two years ago- today' links to the past of becoming until the third year comes full circle and the 'Becoming a New Yorker' blogtale is complete."
So here is a year ago this month and two years ago this month for November:
November 2007
November 2006
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Phone Photo Op - Thanksgiving Dominican-Style
Last night, my roommate and I joined friends in Harlem for a Dominican-style Thanksgiving feast. And in the grand tradition of the Dominican timetable, we started drinking at 6pm and eating at 9:30.
It was worth the wait!
A Year Ago Today: Annual Conference
Two Years Ago Today: Bad Day Average
It was worth the wait!
A Year Ago Today: Annual Conference
Two Years Ago Today: Bad Day Average
Thursday, November 27, 2008
"Things I Love" Thursdays - New York Romances
I love this table at Seeda Thai II on West 50th Street.
"Things I Love" Thursdays are inspired by "I Love New York" (BNY, February 14, 2007).
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: No post
"Things I Love" Thursdays are inspired by "I Love New York" (BNY, February 14, 2007).
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: No post
Monday, November 24, 2008
Miracle on 34th Street
I was not permitted to blog about the great news until all pertinent parties had been informed. Now that the cat is officially out of the bag, I am celebrating in the blogosphere.
On Thursday, November 20, heretofore known as "HeSheIt" Day, I was standing on the southwest corner of 34th and Seventh with Tokii after dinner and a basketball game in Madison Square Garden (her husband is an assistant coach for a top NCAA team playing in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer). Yawning through farewell hugs, I was bidding her good night when she paused and took my hand. Placing it on her belly, she said, "But first, meet your god child."
Suddenly wide awake, squealing and jumping up and down under the neon lights of Midtown, the curious stares actually blurred around us. I could not just go home after news like that. After regaining my composure, we went to get coffee and talk about the he/she/it forming inside of my best friend ... and more importantly, what an amazing God Mother I am going to be - the years ahead of cards and presents for Birthdays, Christmases, Graduations and HeSheIt Days.
She might not believe it - so I didn't tell her - but when I was standing in line for my ticket at the team will call and she waved from beyond the barricade to get my attention, I experienced nanoseconds in which I thought, "Wow. She is glowing." Yet within those mere seconds I assumed that either (1) the TV studio sure does take good care of their actors' skin and hair or (2) she is really happy to see her best friend. Looking back now, I want to believe that I had sensed something was different about her.
Over coffee in the lobby of a nearby hotel, we discussed how she might surprise her husband with the joyous news, how her family and our friends would react, and what challenges lay ahead in juggling her unplanned pregnancy with a significant role on a national television show. Her husband called periodically as the night grew later and his evening obligations to the team were winding down, and we giggled excitedly about the fact that he would soon be a father. I did not get home until after 2am and still had to pack for a weekend trip to DC for an Andrea Bocelli concert at the Washington National Opera. When I woke up a few hours later to get ready for work, it was the funniest thing ... the sky really was bluer.
A Year Ago Today: Back to My Life
Two Years Ago Today: When the Past Comes Back
On Thursday, November 20, heretofore known as "HeSheIt" Day, I was standing on the southwest corner of 34th and Seventh with Tokii after dinner and a basketball game in Madison Square Garden (her husband is an assistant coach for a top NCAA team playing in the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer). Yawning through farewell hugs, I was bidding her good night when she paused and took my hand. Placing it on her belly, she said, "But first, meet your god child."
Suddenly wide awake, squealing and jumping up and down under the neon lights of Midtown, the curious stares actually blurred around us. I could not just go home after news like that. After regaining my composure, we went to get coffee and talk about the he/she/it forming inside of my best friend ... and more importantly, what an amazing God Mother I am going to be - the years ahead of cards and presents for Birthdays, Christmases, Graduations and HeSheIt Days.
She might not believe it - so I didn't tell her - but when I was standing in line for my ticket at the team will call and she waved from beyond the barricade to get my attention, I experienced nanoseconds in which I thought, "Wow. She is glowing." Yet within those mere seconds I assumed that either (1) the TV studio sure does take good care of their actors' skin and hair or (2) she is really happy to see her best friend. Looking back now, I want to believe that I had sensed something was different about her.
Over coffee in the lobby of a nearby hotel, we discussed how she might surprise her husband with the joyous news, how her family and our friends would react, and what challenges lay ahead in juggling her unplanned pregnancy with a significant role on a national television show. Her husband called periodically as the night grew later and his evening obligations to the team were winding down, and we giggled excitedly about the fact that he would soon be a father. I did not get home until after 2am and still had to pack for a weekend trip to DC for an Andrea Bocelli concert at the Washington National Opera. When I woke up a few hours later to get ready for work, it was the funniest thing ... the sky really was bluer.
A Year Ago Today: Back to My Life
Two Years Ago Today: When the Past Comes Back
Friday, November 21, 2008
Phone Photo Op - 34th & Seventh
I received wonderful news here last night.
More to be revealed in due time.
A Year Ago Today: Aging, Not Wrinkles, Is Cruel
Two Years Ago Today: Small Big City
More to be revealed in due time.
A Year Ago Today: Aging, Not Wrinkles, Is Cruel
Two Years Ago Today: Small Big City
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Phone Photo Ops - More Autumn Views
Along my block in Hell's Kitchen
A Year Ago Today:
Dinner in the Dark
Subway Rules
Two Years Ago Today:
Great Expectations
Got Joe?
A Year Ago Today:
Dinner in the Dark
Subway Rules
Two Years Ago Today:
Great Expectations
Got Joe?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Moving On Up
I received a promotion of sorts. In addition to assisting the SVP of Digital Advertising, I am now also assisting the EVP of Media. It's a trial period - to see if I can handle both workloads. But if this week is already any indication, I'll be going to bed a lot earlier every night and blogging a bit less.
In fact, this post is going into the Drafts with the others until I find time to finish it.
Update: Publishing this post; nothing to add regarding this day - other than, I was very tired.
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: Name Dropping
In fact, this post is going into the Drafts with the others until I find time to finish it.
Update: Publishing this post; nothing to add regarding this day - other than, I was very tired.
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: Name Dropping
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"Things I Love" Thursdays - The Power of Remaining Nameless
I love the anonymity in New York City that empowers you to do almost anything in public (within reason), such as stop to buy deodorant on your way to brunch and put it on while standing in line at Rite Aid.
"Things I Love" Thursdays are inspired by "I Love New York" (BNY, February 14, 2007).
A Year Ago Today: Survived First Night
Two Years Ago Today: No post
"Things I Love" Thursdays are inspired by "I Love New York" (BNY, February 14, 2007).
A Year Ago Today: Survived First Night
Two Years Ago Today: No post
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Phone Photo Op - Commuter Keys
In New York, you're more likely to hear Alicia Keys perform live in the Good Morning America studios while walking to work.
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: Reality Soon Sets
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: Reality Soon Sets
Monday, November 10, 2008
Phone Photo Op - You Dirty Rat
A giant rat outside of an office building is usually an indication that a corporation within is doing something that someone finds worthy of protesting - in this case, poor asbestos treatment.
A Year Ago Today: Game of Grab Ass
Two Years Ago Today: Fall is in the Air
A Year Ago Today: Game of Grab Ass
Two Years Ago Today: Fall is in the Air
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Phone Photo Op - Season of Gold
A shade of autumn in New York
A Year Ago Today: "Things I Love" Thursdays - Fall Fashions
Two Years Ago Today: No post
A Year Ago Today: "Things I Love" Thursdays - Fall Fashions
Two Years Ago Today: No post
Friday, November 07, 2008
Phenomenal Life
Last night I dined on gourmet cuisine and listened to Maya Angelou herself recite "Phenomenal Woman" ... for my job.
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: Better Day
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: Better Day
Thursday, November 06, 2008
"Things I Love" Thursdays - Twilight Views
Walking to happy hour at Public House last night
with my roommate.
Walking from happy hour at Public House last night
with my roommate.
And a mannequin that we thought was funny.
"Things I Love" Thursdays are inspired by "I Love New York" (BNY, February 14, 2007).
A Year Ago Today: Becoming a Knick
Two Years Ago Today: Bad Day
with my roommate.
Walking from happy hour at Public House last night
with my roommate.
And a mannequin that we thought was funny.
"Things I Love" Thursdays are inspired by "I Love New York" (BNY, February 14, 2007).
A Year Ago Today: Becoming a Knick
Two Years Ago Today: Bad Day
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Oh, What a Night
New York City has the Morning-After-Election glow. I woke up this morning in a nation with a violent history of slavery, oppression, and civil rights struggles and remembered that overnight, we had elected our first African American President. I know that not everyone in the United States is rejoicing this decision. But today matters because it is the first step toward a time when perhaps it will no longer matter. When a Black, female or even gay president will not be a phenomenon, but a norm. Sure, there are more politics behind Obama's win than just race alone - Bush's reputation, taxes, the economic crisis, McCain's choice of a vice presidential candidate, the war in Iraq, our relationship with Iran and the rest of the Middle East ... and this first step is not affirmation that racism is behind us, but it is a sign that our nation is - not entirely, but broadly - ready to heal.
A dozen or so of our friends gathered in our tiny Hell's Kitchen apartment to watch election coverage. We mixed drinks, ordered takeout and debated politics as we crowded around the television and surfed between the CNN Election Center and the Indecision '08 coverage on Comedy Central. Even a chef friend showed up after his shift with lobster fritters.
When CNN projected Obama to win at approximately 11pm Eastern Standard Time, our apartment erupted in cheers and our neighbors rushed in to tell us that they were heading over to Times Square. As we were throwing on our jackets and silly 2008 and beer mug sunglasses, someone yelled pensively, "Maybe we should double check FOX News to make sure everyone is projecting it."
"Quick," someone else yelled, "What channel is FOX?"
After a quick scroll through the Time Warner guide, we found the channel and again erupted in celebration when we saw that even FOX News was [reluctantly] declaring Obama the winner. Cognizant of the false Al Gore projection in 2000 yet feeling fairly certain that the victory was sealed, we charged through Hell's Kitchen and ran, leaping and screaming, in the streets of West Midtown.
A blind man could have followed the roar from Times Square that was echoing through the canyons of Manhattan. We raced down the blocks, dodging Obama supporters with campaign signs, wearing crazy hats, even some in full body paint, and packed ourselves into the masses of thousands reminiscent of New Year's Eve. Complete strangers met in an embrace and then remained nameless as they turned to scream Obama's name at passersby. Rather than the short, agitated beeps of impatient taxis that I've learned to ignore, I rejoiced in the long, victorious honks of the car horns. I hollered, I did little jigs on street corners, I took silly pictures. If human electricity were conductible, I think our bodies could have lit Times Square alone.
When the jumbotron monitors suddenly experienced technical difficulties as Obama commenced his speech, Natasha and I took off through the crowd to race the few blocks back to our apartment. It was in that moment when I realized that Times Square and Midtown Manhattan were like our very own backyard and for the hundredth time, Natasha and I linked arms and squealed about living in the best city in the world.
But this time, as we ran zigzagging along West 45th Street, stumbling on uneven pavement and giggling uncontrollably, we both knew that we were subconsciously capturing this moment and realizing that this is the story we will tell when our grandchildren ask where we were when Barack Obama was elected President.
... And what a very special time for me,
'Cause I remember what a night ...
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: New York City Marathon
Phone Photo Ops - Marathon Images
A dozen or so of our friends gathered in our tiny Hell's Kitchen apartment to watch election coverage. We mixed drinks, ordered takeout and debated politics as we crowded around the television and surfed between the CNN Election Center and the Indecision '08 coverage on Comedy Central. Even a chef friend showed up after his shift with lobster fritters.
When CNN projected Obama to win at approximately 11pm Eastern Standard Time, our apartment erupted in cheers and our neighbors rushed in to tell us that they were heading over to Times Square. As we were throwing on our jackets and silly 2008 and beer mug sunglasses, someone yelled pensively, "Maybe we should double check FOX News to make sure everyone is projecting it."
"Quick," someone else yelled, "What channel is FOX?"
After a quick scroll through the Time Warner guide, we found the channel and again erupted in celebration when we saw that even FOX News was [reluctantly] declaring Obama the winner. Cognizant of the false Al Gore projection in 2000 yet feeling fairly certain that the victory was sealed, we charged through Hell's Kitchen and ran, leaping and screaming, in the streets of West Midtown.
A blind man could have followed the roar from Times Square that was echoing through the canyons of Manhattan. We raced down the blocks, dodging Obama supporters with campaign signs, wearing crazy hats, even some in full body paint, and packed ourselves into the masses of thousands reminiscent of New Year's Eve. Complete strangers met in an embrace and then remained nameless as they turned to scream Obama's name at passersby. Rather than the short, agitated beeps of impatient taxis that I've learned to ignore, I rejoiced in the long, victorious honks of the car horns. I hollered, I did little jigs on street corners, I took silly pictures. If human electricity were conductible, I think our bodies could have lit Times Square alone.
When the jumbotron monitors suddenly experienced technical difficulties as Obama commenced his speech, Natasha and I took off through the crowd to race the few blocks back to our apartment. It was in that moment when I realized that Times Square and Midtown Manhattan were like our very own backyard and for the hundredth time, Natasha and I linked arms and squealed about living in the best city in the world.
But this time, as we ran zigzagging along West 45th Street, stumbling on uneven pavement and giggling uncontrollably, we both knew that we were subconsciously capturing this moment and realizing that this is the story we will tell when our grandchildren ask where we were when Barack Obama was elected President.
... And what a very special time for me,
'Cause I remember what a night ...
A Year Ago Today: No post
Two Years Ago Today: New York City Marathon
Phone Photo Ops - Marathon Images
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Images from Election Day
Times Square photos added on 11/5/08.
A Year Ago Today: "Things I Love" Thursdays - People Watching
Two Years Ago Today: First Day on Broadway
Monday, November 03, 2008
Just a Look Back
A Year Ago Today: Night Out Summary Via Text Message
Two Years Ago Today: Phone Photo Op - Denzel & Crew
Two Years Ago Today: Phone Photo Op - Denzel & Crew
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Published Photo Ops
Living in New York, you are more likely to see images from a recent event you attended in People Magazine.
A Year Ago Today: Phone Photo Ops - The View from the Top
Two Years Ago Today: No Soup for You!
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Penalizing the Men of Manhattan
My girlfriends stopped traffic last night in Times Square. Literally.
A Year Ago Today: "Things I Love" Thursdays - New York Moments
Two Years Ago Today: Key to the City
A Year Ago Today: "Things I Love" Thursdays - New York Moments
Two Years Ago Today: Key to the City
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